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NHTSA recall 19V120000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

Campaign
Published byNHTSA (United States)
Campaign number19V120000
Manufacturer's numberSC176
ManufacturerKia Motors America
Reported2019-02-22
Owners notified2019-04-17
ComponentENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
Units potentially affected378967
Remedy progress the manufacturer reported
ReportQuarterly report 6, for 2020 quarter 3
Filed with NHTSA2020-10-16
Vehicles in the campaign378967
Reported remedied224743 (59%)
Reported unreachable22569
Reported removed23788

These are the manufacturer's totals for the whole campaign at the end of 2020 quarter 3, as filed with NHTSA. They do not say whether one vehicle has been remedied: check the VIN with the official lookups. The reports are from data as of 2026-10-19.

What is wrong

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.

What can happen

Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.

The remedy

Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Vehicles this campaign lists
2012 KIA SOULBuilt 2011-07-08 to 2016-08-11.
2013 KIA SOULBuilt 2011-07-08 to 2016-08-11.
2014 KIA SOULBuilt 2011-07-08 to 2016-08-11.
2015 KIA SOULBuilt 2011-07-08 to 2016-08-11.
2016 KIA SOULBuilt 2011-07-08 to 2016-08-11.

A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.

Investigated as DP18003

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

NHTSA investigations that led to this recall
DP18003Defect petition, opened 2018-08-21, closed 2019-05-10. Non-crash Vehicle Fires. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; ENGINE; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH; UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.

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